audio;

[extradite]

[ As it happens, the boy's voice could be a little quieter, a little more distant - possibly, if he'd ridden in with a horde of the undead. ]

How do you... resign?

[ Slight pause. ]

When I tried to, they weren't the right words. Right sounding. Right on paper. Right to think abou - ...right. Sorry. That's impolite to ask all of a sudden, without a proper greeting. My bad.

[ A hint louder, more rehearsed - ]

Good day. Pleased to meet you. How do you do.

[ And now back to the pathetic old track. ]

If it's all the same to you: how do you resign from something like this?

Comments

[corona]

Uh... huh. So - which is avoiding questions? Is that a habit of yours or an instinct?

[extradite]

[ He actually takes the time to think this over. ]

...pick one.

[corona]

What? No. If I wanted to ask myself a question, I would, but I'm asking you.

[ beat ]

How I would I know which to pick anyway?

[extradite]

How should I know which to pick?

It doesn't matter to me, so choose the one you like best.

1/2

[corona]

[ It's such an unexpected and downright bizarre thing to hear - the last thing she'd expected, frankly - that for a long moment she only stares. Then she replays his response. And then, unsure still, she does it again.

The strangest part, however, isn't that what he says makes no sense; what's strange is that it makes perfect sense. ]

[corona]

Fine. Since you're still dodging the question, I'll rephrase! You are very good at that, by the way. Misdirection. You should meet Ange. Or Itsuki. [ don't say that good god ]

But - first: is resigning from things something you do often? And second: has this happened to you before?

[extradite]

[ He needs a moment.

He'll take two. ]


If I'd had resigned properly before, I'd know how to do it now.

[glistens]

...Well.

Now that we know direct interrogation techniques don't work on you. How about multiple choice? You get to answer either YES or NO for the first one, all right? That's it. One or the other. No in between. No word play. Just "yes" or "no" if it applies! Understand?

[ It's about here that he and this conversation start reminding her a little of someone, so the next part comes pointedly. ]

I want a yes or no answer for that last one too, by the way. Do you understand - [ and bracelet check ] - Shinji Ikari? I - Oh! You have a Japanese name. Oh, that actually makes sense. You're very nice and polite too. Anyway: yes or no.

[extradite]

Uh - ah - tha - Japanese, ye - is it time for 'yes' yet? 'No'? Yes-no? Aaaaah.... what am I answering now? Which one?

[glistens]

All of them.

1/2

[extradite]

[ Quite a length of pause, as he actually replays every single one of her communications to put down the questions. ]

In the order you asked them...

[extradite]

[ it's a brief review, really, for all his voice starts to break as it advances. ]

One: I don't know.

Two: I don't know.

Three: I don't know.

Four: I don't know.

Five: I don't know.

[corona]

You're...telling the truth.

Mm. I'm sorry. Don't get me wrong, I mean - you can't just avoid questions or say "I don't know" to everything and expect people to believe in that. It may feel like you're being honest, but it sounds like a lie. People here... they're good at picking out that kind of thing. And Asgard, it's— It has a way of changing things. Like... people? Not just the Faceless, but us too. And the city itself might force you to be honest. Eventually.

But I had no right to demand that from you now. I'm still working out a few social niceties but that's not really an excuse, so - I am sorry. For that.

[extradite]

[ lowly, lower still. ]

I'm tired. Of it. Of them. Your questions. Why should I be the one who has to answer these things? You're also... it's not as if you're said anything in return. I didn't ask. I'm not asking. Why are you?

[glistens]

Because I'm nosy. This is my first time. But if you've been kidnapped by gods before I think anyone would be curious about it. [ And all right she believed some awful advice taking out grief on unsuspecting mecha pilots. Not her style and it feels bad man. And now he's going to think she's a psycho so that's great with a capital why me. ]

But on bright side? You can be whoever you want and do whatever you want here. No one knows who you are. But if you're here then you must be special. So let's start over. Only... maybe smiling this time? Is that okay, Shinji Ikari?

[extradite]

[ He hasn't been kidnapped by gods before.

There's no need to be curious about someone like him.

He isn't anyone.

He isn't special.

They can't start over, people don't forget words that have gone said.

She smiles enough for both.

It's okay as long as she isn't screaming.

So many things to tell her. Best start with - ]

...what would you like best?

[corona]

[ There it is again: that uncomfortably familiar attitude. ]

I'd... like for you to be what you want. Whatever makes you happiest.

[extradite]

'Be what you want to be, but don't be something I don't approve of, and know what that is without asking.' That's what people mean when they say that sort of thing.

[corona]

Well. I'm not "people". I'm Rapunzel. Which is good because it means you don't have to worry about all that.

And... to be fair, you're already sort of doing it on your own aren't you? If you really think that's what I believe? Then you're making assumptions about who I am and acting accordingly on your own. That was you. Not me.

Anyway! I can't promise I won't disappoint you, but I know I'm not going to blame you for being yourself when that's what I'm asking you to do.

[extradite]

[ Input: reasonable request.

Output: neglect of said request.

Silence. ]


Do you usually say these sort of things to people you've never met before?

[corona]

Pretty much.

[extradite]

...I'm sorry. It's a long speech to have to give so often.

[corona]

Imagine having to type it! That is a challenge. My fingers get all skittish just from a few minutes of texting so you really have to admire the people who come from worlds where that sort of thing is just - normal. All the time.

[extradite]

Computer typing? You've never... before...at length? Really?

[glistens]

And you're... from a texting world.

Well - I have a few months worth of practice now! [ icon keywords ] I even know emoticons! Like the Xcellent Dinosaur face?